2016 Audi A6 2.0 TFSI Quattro Progressiv S Line Road Test Review

2016 Audi A6 2.0 TFSI Quattro Progressiv S Line Road Test Review

Just one look at the Audi A6 and it’s easy to see why it’s become one of the most popular mid-size models in its premium class.

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

It’s not all that different in design from other Audi sedans, but for some reason the larger its cars get the more proportionally attractive they become.

That’s not to say its A3 or A4 aren’t good looking in their own rights, they are and their sales reflect this, but the longer and wider A6, which has just been given a subtle yet effectively edgy facelift for 2016, allows a sharper version of Audi’s trademark horizontally-ribbed hexagonal horseshoe-shaped Singleframe grille more space to stretch out and a more upright presence that meets tougher European pedestrian safety standards (and therefore protects ours better too), gives its beautifully reshaped multi-angle headlamp clusters slightly longer and narrower appeal, helps the more crisply chiseled lower fascia greater width to cut through the air, which it does quite effectively,

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

followed up with a paneled underfloor that directs airflow beneath the vehicle to help achieve an overall 0.26 coefficient of drag, permits larger wheel cutouts with more space to be filled by the S Line’s gorgeous twinned five-spoke 19-inch alloys on sporty 255/40 Pirelli P Zero rubber, lends its flowing raked roofline a more coupe-like demeanour and extended rear quarter windows razor sharp edginess, grants its larger rear deck lid a more dignified presence which now ends with a cleaner swept-up integrated spoiler, provides longer, narrower versions of Audi’s brilliantly minimalist taillights that rewrite the book on understated elegance, until seeing them at night when the LEDs light up in an oh-so stylish pattern, and finally affords enough breadth for the newly designed thick, wide grey diffuser-style bumper cap below, complete with elongated chrome-tipped tailpipes, which combined

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

help to deliver sportier more purposefully planted poise when seen from the rear. The reworked 2016 A6 might best display the brand’s noted style, its sheer Audi-ness clearly visible from a mile away.

Likewise, if you want to see where Audi shows its capability in interior design, quality and execution, move up into its larger more prestigious models. This is where the updated and refined A6 impresses with some of the most stylish detailing in the segment, the textured aluminum trim in my base Progressiv trimmed tester some of the nicest I’ve seen in any four-door. Yet even before getting inside, eyes make contact with a thin strip of rich chrome embellishing the door

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handle, not to mention beautifully finished metal trim surrounding the doorframe; Audi truly doesn’t hold back when it comes to metal brightwork.

Additionally all of the soft-touch synthetic surfaces inside are made from the highest quality materials, although I was surprised that Audi didn’t include more pliable plastic as part of this mid-cycle upgrade. I could understand cheaper feeling, hollow sounding harder composites being used on the lower dash, which is the case, but the glove box lid? As it stands Audi is still the only brand in the mid-size E-segment that doesn’t go all the way with such finer details, which is a shame because it all looks so amazing. I suppose there’s a possible argument that cheaper plastics are lighter and therefore reduce fuel consumption while improving driving dynamics, and while this is true in theory Audi isn’t a performance

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at all costs brand like Lotus, so therefore premium consumers deservedly expect more. Likewise, most of the switchgear isn’t as tight fitting and well damped as others in the class, an attribute that Audi once made a name for. Is such the price of sales success? On the positive, as long as you don’t touch, it all looks gorgeous.

Fortunately the seats are extremely comfortable and very supportive, precursors to those driving dynamics I mentioned earlier that are fully up to class expectations thanks to a five-link front suspension with upper and lower wishbones plus a trapezoidal rear setup, also with wishbones. I had forgotten how smoothly the A6 rides, but this one might even be smoother than the A6 TDI I was so impressed with last year, its ability to whisk you away as if floating on air, magically

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maneuver around curvaceous onramps and then effortlessly sweep past slower highway traffic as good as it gets in this segment. This is the real reason to own an Audi, and it’ll do all this and more as stably in the wet as it does in the dry thanks to Quattro all-wheel drive, not to mention dual-circuit, diagonally split ABS-enhanced four-wheel disc brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, electronic stability control and even a brake disc wiping feature that keeps the rotors ready no matter the weather.

In my notes I dubbed the A6’s all-round maneuverability “a rare sense of control,” and such handling prowess can be made even better by selecting Dynamic mode from the infotainment system. It’s a bit awkward to find, rather than the usual rocker switch on the lower console found in competitors’ cars, which I must say allows

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much easier and quicker mode modulation (I tend to flick back and forth between eco mode, when available, and sport mode all the time, while sometimes using comfort settings for long highway stints or rough pavement), but it’s there when needed and is well worth the screen time to locate it.

My tester’s 2.0-litre TFSI, upgraded for greater power and efficiency for 2016, was more than adequate when I felt the need to take off quickly, responding more like a V6 than anything with four cylinders, much thanks to direct injection and a turbocharger that combine for 252 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque from as low as 1,600 rpm, which together with its velvety smooth shifting eight-speed automatic is all most drivers will ever need to induce smiles, zero to 100km/h taking just 6.9 seconds. It gets a set of shift paddles behind the 9 and 3 o’clock steering

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wheel spokes, which deliver extremely quick and positive response to input with Dynamic mode engaged, while when more conservatively driven the A6 2.0 TFSI is good for a five-cycle EnerGuide fuel economy rating of 10.8 city, 7.3 highway and 9.2 combined, which is actually better than last year’s rating despite the power upgrade. That’s quite efficient for a 1,725-kilo (3,803-lb) sport-luxury sedan by the way, although that curb weight is 15 percent lower than its predecessor and also lighter than the class average due to high-strength hybrid aluminum body panels.

To achieve such numbers you’ll need to switch out of Dynamic mode and choose Comfort or Auto (where I left it most of the time), the final Individual mode allowing you to add in your own specific settings. Its milder mannered modes chosen, the A6 saves fuel by automatically shutting down the engine when it would

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otherwise be idling, a great feature that also makes sitting at standstill quieter while reducing emissions from your immediate area let alone the entire eco-system.

Such moments allow opportunity to get more acquainted with Audi’s latest generation MMI (MultiMedia Interface) infotainment system, the higher resolution and larger eight-inch display of which powers up out of the dash top and can be lowered back into its recess at the push of a button so as not to completely take over the instrument panel 24/7, as is the case with so many others. Also, the display isn’t a touchscreen that gets covered with fingerprints, but rather is in-line with the majority of premium carmakers that use a controller to move throughout the system and make commands, much like a computer and mouse. A large rotating

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dial surrounded by a cluster of go-to buttons sits closest to the centre armrest, allowing easy access to just about any system within the car, while an innovative touchpad closer to the driver’s seat lets you prompt the system by drawing letters and numbers with your finger, not unlike some smartphone apps. Even more important, the more intuitive MMI has been upgraded to a new MIB 2 Nvidia Tegra 30 processor that’s capable of processing up to eight billion computations per second for smoother, faster operation. All in all Audi’s MMI is a user-friendly system as long as you give yourself a little time to learn its processes. After that, there’s almost no end to what it can do.

The display screen powers up immediately at startup, incidentally, which is initiated by pressing an ignition button that’s still illogically placed on the British side of the lower console (how I love quirks in cars – RIP Saab). The optional $6,500

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15-speaker dash-mounted Bang & Olufsen stereo’s powered dash-mounted tweeters follow suit if so upgraded (but you’d need to step up to an S6 to get it), while the standard powered steering column, mirrors and memory driver’s seat move into position too, which altogether creates quite the sense of occasion if you’re not used to such things. Slot the shifter into reverse and a standard rearview camera sends its feed to the infotainment screen (if you’ve chosen to hide the screen away it will automatically power up before backing up and then retract into its pocket when the gearbox is placed in drive), or optionally an

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

even better surround view monitor gives you a much more thorough 360-degree bird’s-eye viewpoint, while standard front and rear parking sensors beep if you get too close to something that might mar the A6’s beautiful paintwork or glistening chrome mouldings, and you’re off unscathed.

a power tilt and telescopic heatable leather-wrapped multi-function three-spoke sport steering wheel, auto-dimming rearview and side mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, a high-resolution driver information system, the infotainment system I noted before along with the reverse camera, navigation, a decent sounding standard audio system with digital radio reception, satellite radio, Bluetooth hands-free and audio streaming, and two new USB ports in the centre console, one replacing the old SUV’s outdated 30-pin iPod plug that connected through to the MMI system and the other one powered (thanks for getting with the smartphone program Audi), as well as cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, a rear seat pass-through, Audi pre-sense frontal crash mitigation,

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

and all the usual safety equipment including knee blockers for the airbag system.

As mentioned my tester included the $1,600 S Line sport package that includes the 19-inch alloys I spoke of earlier, unique bumpers (that are worth the price of admission alone), S Line doorsill plates and a black roofliner.

You can also add the S Line package if you upgrade to optional Technik trim, which incidentally adds a different set of 19-inch multi-spoke wheels, standard ash hardwood trim, four-way powered lumbar support, the aforementioned 360-degree surround monitor, a HomeLink garage door opener, and side assist driver’s aid, while a sport suspension can be included for $300 and rear side-impact

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airbags can be added for $400. You can get the rear airbags with Progressiv trim as well, while the garage door opener will set you back $250.

Additionally, Technik (Technology) buyers can upgrade to the $2,750 Multicontour and Ventilation package that adds even more comfortable 14-way power-adjustable front seats with ventilation and massage function plus memory for the front passenger, while all seating positions are covered in plusher Valcona leather. Lastly, a $2,900 Driver Assistant package adds Audi pre sense plus, active lane assist, and adaptive cruise control with stop and go function. So equipped the newest A6 was given a 2015 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating.

The A6 is not only safe, secure and very nicely equipped, but all of this gear gets added

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to a four-door sedan that’s very accommodating both front and back, the rear seats allowing room for three adults in comfort, although if only two are aboard a fold-down armrest enhances the art of relaxation. My five-foot-eight frame found more than enough space to stretch out, while I still had inches above my head and in front of my knees making me fairly confident six-footers and taller shouldn’t have a problem fitting in. The 399-litre (14.1 cubic-foot) trunk should be ample for most peoples’ needs too, while the rear seatbacks fold forward in the usual 60/40-split and extra versatility of a pass-through allows more comfortable window seating for two rear occupants while skis or what-have-you are stowed in between.

I mentioned earlier that the A6 was a strong seller, and compared to many of its rivals it does very well by breaking into four-digit territory with a total of 1,113 units

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

sold last year for its best result in nine years and third best in the last 11, but compared to the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and BMW 5 Series that found 3,789 and 2,337 buyers respectively in 2014, it’s a rather distant third. It’s also a drop in the bucket when factored into Audi Canada’s total 2014 sales of 24,514 units, by far the best year it’s ever experienced at more than three times the sales it earned a decade ago. Still, the A6 is a critically important model for maintaining the brand’s overall cachet, and compared to the losses its premium competitors experience trying to do likewise it’s an unqualified success. Jaguar, for instance, only sold 567 XF models, whereas Lexus could only attract 480 GS buyers, Acura a mere 243 RLX purchasers, Lincoln an even more concerning 206 MKS customers, Infiniti a paltry 128 Q70 owners, and Volvo just 68 S80 loyalists. Audi may want to pay close attention to Cadillac, however, who’s larger and therefore repositioned

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(and very impressive) CTS found 1,076 new owners last year (and previous years have had it in the high 3 to low 4k range), and Tesla that was able to attract 847 Model S buyers in 2014 and is already at 742 for the first half of 2015. If Tesla keeps sales growing in this upward trajectory it will quickly (and quietly) slip past Audi into the third sales spot in this segment (unless Cadillac gets there first), and all without the aid of internal combustion power-who would’ve thought? This updated A6 should improve sales, so it appears the race is on.

Nevertheless a great deal is changing within the mid-size premium segment and to Audi’s credit its extremely fuel-efficient clean diesel TDI powerplant remains part of the A6 offering for just $66,100, or if it’s performance you’re looking for, a 333 horsepower 3.0 TFSI turns most competitive six-cylinders on their heads for just $63,700; and don’t get me going about the $88,500 450 horsepower S6 that I touched on earlier.